Robert Bruey reaches for the stars

Robert Bruey dreams of playing lush, ornate venues -- the lovingly restored United Palace and Beacon Theatre in Manhattan.

But the Southold singer-songwriter already may be booked into the venue that comes closest to the mood he crafts on his recent "Silver Burning Sky" CD. He's playing Custer Observatory April 16, where the stars and the sky provide a fitting backdrop for his pretty, simple, mostly acoustic songs.

"It's gonna be cool," says Bruey, who also is set to play the Great South Bay Music Festival this summer, along with some dates in his native Maine. "I'm going to have the cellist [Jon Preddice] and the violinist Leanne Preddice Strom] from the album joining me."

The observatory's natural beauty also fits well with the organic feel that Bruey wanted for the album.

"The producer, Jack Licitra, set me up in an old house, in the living room, and we recorded there," Bruey says. "On some of the songs, there was no rehearsing between me and the cellist and he recorded the vocals and the guitar and the cello simultaneously. It really gave it the natural feel I wanted for this."

Bruey says he's already written enough songs for another album, one that will be a bit edgier. Right now, his focus will be on promoting "Silver Burning Sky," something his manager keeps reminding him.

"It's good to have someone keeping my head out of the clouds," Bruey says, laughing.

Bruey plays Vail-Leavitt Music Hall, 18 Peconic Ave., Riverhead, 631-727-5782, April 9 with Miles to Dayton. Tickets are $12. He plays Custer Institute and Observatory, 1115 Main Bayview Rd., Southold, 631-765-2626, April 16. Admission is $13.

Contact The Long Island Sound at glenn.gamboa@newsday.com or follow @ndmusic on Twitter.